Verizon International Calling Plan Customer ServiceVerizon International Calling Plan Dismissed my call to customer service for international calling rate plan as if I never made that call and charged me $3.00 per minute instead of $0.12 cents. I have been a Verizon customer for 8 years prior with an exellent payment history and now they are more or less telling me that I'am a liar and never requested a international calling plan with them. Annapolis Maryland

In October of 2006 I made a call to a Verizon operator to establish a International Calling Plan were I was assured that within 36 hrs of that call my line for overseas calls would be established. Unfortunately the Representative did not provide me with a Plan Reference Number or Code which in hindsight would have saved me paying up a sum of $ 3288.45.

THIS IS WHAT FOLLOWED...

In November I received a total due sum of $ 1467.82.
This is when I initiated calls to Verizon and contacted the General Attorneys Office for the Bureau of Consumer Protection in writing.

After making a overseas holiday trip for 6 weeks I found to my surprise a additional monthly Verizon bill for the sum of $1812.29.

The International calling Rate quote should have been 0.12 cents per minute and a $ 4.00monthly Service Fee.
Instead I was being charged a average of $ 3.00 per minute and told over the phone that I never made such request and I only called to make inqueries about the plan but did not request it.... In other words saying to me that I' am a liar.

My payment arrangement for the phone bill was direct from my bank account.Needles to say I had those charges reversed as unauthorized. When I made arrangements with my bank in person the teller to my surprised informed me that I was the 3rd person that week who has discrepancies with Verizon.)

When a Interstate call is made Verizon let's you know wether you have a plan for it or not and if you do decide to make a call following rates will apply.

Well when I called overseas I never got that courtesy I guess because my International Calling Plan must have been in effect after all. That was one issue I laid out in a written letter as a response to the General Attorneys Office request but never got a satisfactory answer in the next written response that went via the GAO office from the same Verizons Customer Relations person.They just kept bringing up the Risk Block issue which by no means has a real relevance to issuing a International Calling Plan.

In the second response to the Bureau for Consumer Protection from Verizon simply communicated their Long Distance Billing Department have preserved the right to arranged for a Debt Collectors Office to get in touch with me.

This issue never seemed to get acknowledgement passed the same Customer Relations(Jo Anne Dykes) and a Verizon Toll Billing Inquiry Center.

Upon calling a Verizon Representative I was told they will look into the matter on Monday and apply the charges to the calling rate I expected and just to call back that Monday to arrange for all of that. That was before the Thanks Giving Holiday weekend.

Monday I called Verizon again and talked to a guy named Larry who really added insult to injury. His phone etiquette was rude right from the get go.He simply told me that the Rep. I talked to the previous Friday was poorly informed and that the outstanding amount is what it is . Basically telling me I never arranged for a International Calling Plan.

Talking to a Customer Relations personal that Monday has brought no light into the issue either. The above person added in a written statements to the General Attorneys Office /Consumer Protection Bureau that they had to place a Risk Block to my phone number and had notified me by mail which I never received. Never got a phone call/message either.

Mind you during this time I had my mail held by the local Post Office as I traveled overseas but when I checked through the mail I didn't find any mentioning of a Risk Block issue.

Now, Risk Blocks are placed when you run a unusually high bill . I have had a Home Line with Verizon for over 8 years and bills were always paid on time with direct debit from my bank.-So why issue a Risk Block in the mail. Long standing customer should deserve at least a phone call!-

After being in touch with the Consumer Protection Bureau in writing and getting more or less non responsive letters to the issues in question through the CPB they finally suggested to bring the matter in front of a civil court.

Verizon was simply non responsive and avasive to all points in my complaint. The Bureau of Consumer Protection informs you that you should not establish direct contact after they have started contacting the company in question.

Never the less at least 2 phone messages were left on my answering machine to get in touch with the very same Customer Relations(Jo Anne Dykes) person which I did not respond to.

The moral here is that never to make a Transaction for Services without a Reference Number/Code of some sort.

Needles to say I will be using international calling cards from now on. At least you know what you will be paying.

Edward
Dover, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.

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